New York

On May 23, 1933, almost 2 million
voters in the state of New York voted to repeal Prohibition by a
margin of over 85%. That vote was ratified a little over a month
later on June 27. New York's experience with prohibition was an
interesting one. Prohibition in New York was characterized by lax
enforcement and disrespect for an unpopular law.

This disregard for law is
illustrated by and article in the Chicago Tribune from 1930 which
quotes a prohibition official chidingly telling New York officials
that “32,000 bars is not prohibition.”

Those 32,000 bars were supplied
from a variety of sources, including a collection of ships off the
coast stocked with liquor. A 1924 New York Times article
interviewed the captain of one such ship. This rum runner was quite
laid back, and, when discussing a new treaty that expanded the area
near the shore in which the Coast Guard could pursue rum runners, he
“laughed when asked if it would be effective.” He talked of the
effective use of seaplanes and how “if the prohibition people tell
you the truth, they will admit that the stuff is coming ashore...in
greater quantities than ever before.” He describes his job as
“great-fun,” mentioning that “some of us take our wives
along.”

The economical situation of the
ships laden with liquor off the coast was also discussed, and it is
pointed out that they could remain off the coast almost
indefinitely, waiting for the proper time to have cargo delivered.
This runner did not seem at all phased by the fact that his
profession was illegal.

In addition to fostering a general
disrespect for the law, prohibition had the effect of overcrowding
the justice system. In some parts of the State, according to a 1929
summary of the Wickersham commission's report, 93% of all cases were
prohibition-related.

Click on a region below to find
interesting stories regarding that area's experience with
prohibition.